The Sin and Punishment of Judah

1  חַטַּ֣את (The sin) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah) כְּתוּבָ֛ה (is written) בְּעֵ֥ט (with a stylus) בַּרְזֶ֖ל (of iron),

בְּצִפֹּ֣רֶן (with the nail) שָׁמִ֑יר (of a diamond); חֲרוּשָׁה֙ (it is engraved)

עַל־ (upon) ל֣וּחַ (the tablet) לִבָּ֔ם (of their heart),

וּלְקַרְנ֖וֹת (and on the horns) מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (of your⁺ altars);

2  כִּזְכֹּ֤ר (remember) בְּנֵיהֶם֙ (while their sons) מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֔ם (their altars) וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶ֖ם (and their Asherah poles)

עַל־ (by) עֵ֣ץ (the trees) רַֽעֲנָ֑ן (green) עַ֖ל (on) גְּבָע֥וֹת (hills) הַגְּבֹהֽוֹת׃ (the high).

3  הֲרָרִי֙ (O My mountain) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field),

חֵילְךָ֥ (your wealth) כָל־ (and all)

אוֹצְרוֹתֶ֖יךָ (your treasures) לָבַ֣ז (as plunder), אֶתֵּ֑ן (I will give)

בָּמֹתֶ֕יךָ (your high places) בְּחַטָּ֖את (of sin),

בְּכָל־ (within all) גְּבוּלֶֽיךָ׃ (your borders).

4  וְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה (And you shall let go) וּבְךָ֙ (even you)

מִנַּחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ (of your inheritance) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נָתַ֣תִּי (I gave) לָ֔ךְ (to you)

וְהַעֲבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (and I will make you serve) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ (your enemies)

בָּאָ֖רֶץ (in the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹֽא־ (you have not); יָדָ֑עְתָּ (known)

כִּֽי־ (for) אֵ֛שׁ (a fire) קְדַחְתֶּ֥ם (you⁺ have kindled) בְּאַפִּ֖י (in My nose),

עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֥ם (forever) תּוּקָֽד׃ס (it will burn).

5  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH);

אָר֤וּר (Cursed is) הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) יִבְטַ֣ח (trusts) בָּֽאָדָ֔ם (in mankind),

וְשָׂ֥ם (and makes) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh) זְרֹע֑וֹ (his arm),

וּמִן־ (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יָס֥וּר (and turns away) לִבּֽוֹ׃ (his heart).

6  וְהָיָה֙ (And he shall be) כְּעַרְעָ֣ר (like a shrub) בָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה (in the desert plain),

וְלֹ֥א (and hnot) יִרְאֶ֖ה (he shall see) כִּי־ (when) יָב֣וֹא (comes); ט֑וֹב (good)

וְשָׁכַ֤ן (and he shall dwell) חֲרֵרִים֙ (in the parched places) בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (in the desert),

אֶ֥רֶץ (land) מְלֵחָ֖ה (in a salt) וְלֹ֥א (without) תֵשֵֽׁב׃ס (dweller).

7  בָּר֣וּךְ (Blessed is) הַגֶּ֔בֶר (the man) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יִבְטַ֖ח (trusts) בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (in YHWH),

וְהָיָ֥ה (and is) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מִבְטַחֽוֹ׃ (his hope).

8  וְהָיָ֞ה (And he shall be) כְּעֵ֣ץ׀ (like a tree) שָׁת֣וּל (planted) עַל־ (by) מַ֗יִם (the waters),

וְעַל־ (and which by) יוּבַל֙ (the river), יְשַׁלַּ֣ח (sends out) שָֽׁרָשָׁ֔יו (its roots)

וְלֹ֤א (and not) יִרָא (It will fear) כִּֽי־ (when) יָבֹ֣א (comes), חֹ֔ם (the heat)

וְהָיָ֥ה (will be) עָלֵ֖הוּ (and its leaf) רַֽעֲנָ֑ן (green);

וּבִשְׁנַ֤ת (and in the year) בַּצֹּ֙רֶת֙ (of drought), לֹ֣א (not) יִדְאָ֔ג (it is anxious)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָמִ֖ישׁ (will it leave off) מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת (from producing) פֶּֽרִי׃ (fruit).

9  עָקֹ֥ב (Is deceitful) הַלֵּ֛ב (the heart) מִכֹּ֖ל (above all things)

וְאָנֻ֣שׁ (desperately wicked); ה֑וּא (and)

מִ֖י (who) יֵדָעֶֽנּוּ׃ (can know it).

10  אֲנִ֧י (I) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) חֹקֵ֥ר (am the One searching) לֵ֖ב (the heart),

בֹּחֵ֣ן (and testing) כְּלָי֑וֹת (the kidneys),

וְלָתֵ֤ת (even to give) לְאִישׁ֙ (to each man) כְּדַרְכּוֹ (according to his ways),

כִּפְרִ֖י (according to the fruit) מַעֲלָלָֽיו׃ס (of his deeds).

11  קֹרֵ֤א (As a partridge) דָגַר֙ (that broods) וְלֹ֣א (and not); יָלָ֔ד (having brought forth)

עֹ֥שֶׂה (is one making) עֹ֖שֶׁר (riches), וְלֹ֣א (and not) בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט (with justice),

בַּחֲצִ֤י (in the midst) יֹמוֹ (of his days), יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ (it will leave him)

וּבְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ (and at his end) יִהְיֶ֥ה (he will become) נָבָֽל׃ (a fool).

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

12  כִּסֵּ֣א (A throne) כָב֔וֹד (of glory) מָר֖וֹם (on high) מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן (from the beginning)

מְק֖וֹם (is the place) מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ (of our sanctuary).

13  מִקְוֵ֤ה (The Hope) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH),

כָּל־ (all) עֹזְבֶ֖יךָ (those forsaking You) יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ (will be put to shame),

יִסּוֹרַי (and those turning away from Me) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (in the earth), יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ (will be written)

כִּ֥י (for) עָזְב֛וּ (they have forsaken) מְק֥וֹר (the fountain)

מַֽיִם־ (waters). חַיִּ֖ים (Of Living) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH),

14  רְפָאֵ֤נִי (Heal me) יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א (and I will be healed);

הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי (save me) וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה (and I will be saved),

כִּ֥י (for) תְהִלָּתִ֖י (my praise) אָֽתָּה׃ (You are).

15  הִנֵּה־ (Behold), הֵ֕מָּה (they) אֹמְרִ֖ים (say) אֵלָ֑י (to me)

אַיֵּ֥ה (Where is) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH)?

יָ֥בוֹא (Let it come) נָֽא׃ (now).

16  וַאֲנִ֞י (And I) לֹא־ (not) אַ֣צְתִּי׀ (have hurried away) מֵרֹעֶ֣ה (from being a shepherd) אַחֲרֶ֗יךָ (after You)

וְי֥וֹם (the day); אָנ֛וּשׁ (of despair) לֹ֥א (and not) הִתְאַוֵּ֖יתִי (I have desired)

אַתָּ֣ה (You) יָדָ֑עְתָּ (know); מוֹצָ֣א (that which came out) שְׂפָתַ֔י (of my lips)

נֹ֥כַח (before) פָּנֶ֖יךָ (Your face) הָיָֽה׃ (for it was).

17  אַל־ (Not) תִּֽהְיֵה־ (be) לִ֖י (to me) לִמְחִתָּ֑ה (a terror)

מַֽחֲסִי־ (my hope) אַ֖תָּה (You are) בְּי֥וֹם (in the day) רָעָֽה׃ (of evil).

18  יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ (Let them be confounded) רֹדְפַי֙ (who pursue me)

וְאַל־ (and do not) אֵבֹ֣שָׁה (be ashamed), אָ֔נִי (let me)

יֵחַ֣תּוּ (let be dismayed), הֵ֔מָּה (them)

וְאַל־ (not) אֵחַ֖תָּה (let be dismayed). אָ֑נִי (Me)

הָבִ֤יא (Bring) עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (upon them) י֣וֹם (the day) רָעָ֔ה (of evil),

וּמִשְׁנֶ֥ה (with double) שִׁבָּר֖וֹן (destruction) שָׁבְרֵֽם׃ס (and destroy them).

Restoring the Sabbath
(Nehemiah 13:15–22)

19  כֹּה־ (Thus) אָמַ֨ר (said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֵלַ֗י (to me) הָלֹ֤ךְ (Go) וְעָֽמַדְתָּ֙ (and stand) בְּשַׁ֣עַר (in the gate) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) עָם (of the people), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (by which) יָבֹ֤אוּ (enter), בוֹ֙ (into it) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (and by which) יֵ֣צְאוּ (they go out), ב֑וֹ (of it) וּבְכֹ֖ל (and in all) שַׁעֲרֵ֥י (the gates) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem).

20  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֲ֠לֵיהֶם (to them): שִׁמְע֨וּ (Hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH), מַלְכֵ֤י (O kings) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), וְכָל־ (and all) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah), וְכֹ֖ל (and all) יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem), הַבָּאִ֖ים (who enter) בַּשְּׁעָרִ֥ים (gates); הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ס (by these). 21  כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH); הִשָּׁמְר֖וּ (take heed) בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (to yourselves), וְאַל־ (no) תִּשְׂא֤וּ (and bear) מַשָּׂא֙ (burden) בְּי֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (on the Sabbath) וַהֲבֵאתֶ֖ם (to bring it in) בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י (by the gates) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem); 22  וְלֹא־ (you shall not) תוֹצִ֨יאוּ (bring out) מַשָּׂ֤א (a load) מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶם֙ (from your⁺ houses) בְּי֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (on the Sabbath) וְכָל־ (any) מְלָאכָ֖ה (work), לֹ֣א (and not) תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ (you⁺ shall do) וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם֙ (and keep holy) אֶת־ (-) י֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (the Sabbath) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) צִוִּ֖יתִי (I commanded) אֶת־ (-) אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ fathers). 23  וְלֹ֣א (Not), שָֽׁמְע֔וּ (they did listen) וְלֹ֥א (and not) הִטּ֖וּ (incline) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנָ֑ם (their ear), וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ (and they stiffened), אֶת־ (-) עָרְפָּ֔ם (their neck) לְבִלְתִּ֣י (that not) שׁוֹמֵעַ (they would hear), וּלְבִלְתִּ֖י (and not) קַ֥חַת (they would receive) מוּסָֽר׃ (discipline).

24  וְ֠הָיָה (And it will come to pass), אִם־ (if) שָׁמֹ֨עַ (listening) תִּשְׁמְע֤וּן (you⁺ listen carefully) אֵלַי֙ (to Me) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), לְבִלְתִּ֣י׀ (and not) הָבִ֣יא (do bring in) מַשָּׂ֗א (a load) בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י (through the gates) הָעִ֥יר (city) הַזֹּ֖את (of this) בְּי֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (on the Sabbath) וּלְקַדֵּשׁ֙ (and consecrate) אֶת־ (-) י֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (the Sabbath) לְבִלְתִּ֥י (to not) עֲשֽׂוֹת־ (do) בֹּה (on it) כָּל־ (any) מְלָאכָֽה׃ (work). 25  וּבָ֣אוּ (Then will come) בְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י (into the gates) הָעִ֣יר (of the city) הַזֹּ֡את (this) מְלָכִ֣ים׀ (kings) וְשָׂרִ֡ים (and princes) יֹשְׁבִים֩ (sitting) עַל־ (on) כִּסֵּ֨א (the throne) דָוִ֜ד (of David), רֹכְבִ֣ים׀ (riding) בָּרֶ֣כֶב (in chariots) וּבַסּוּסִ֗ים (and on horses), הֵ֚מָּה (they), וְשָׂ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (and their princes), אִ֥ישׁ (with the men) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah), וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י (and the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem), וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה (and will abide) הָֽעִיר־ (the city) הַזֹּ֖את (this) לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (forever). 26  וּבָ֣אוּ (They will come) מֵעָרֵֽי־ (from the cities) יְ֠הוּדָה (of Judah), וּמִסְּבִיב֨וֹת (from the places around) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (Jerusalem), וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ (and from the land) בִּנְיָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin), וּמִן־ (and from) הַשְּׁפֵלָ֤ה (the Shephelah), וּמִן־ (and from) הָהָר֙ (and the hill country), וּמִן־ (and from) הַנֶּ֔גֶב (the Negev), מְבִאִ֛ים (bringing) עוֹלָ֥ה (burnt offerings), וְזֶ֖בַח (and sacrifices), וּמִנְחָ֣ה (and grain offerings), וּלְבוֹנָ֑ה (and frankincense), וּמְבִאֵ֥י (and bringing) תוֹדָ֖ה (thank offerings), בֵּ֥ית (to the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

27  וְאִם־ (And if) לֹ֨א (not) תִשְׁמְע֜וּ (you⁺ do listen) אֵלַ֗י (to Me) לְקַדֵּשׁ֙ (to consecrate) אֶת־ (-) י֣וֹם (day), הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (the Sabbath) וּלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀ (and not) שְׂאֵ֣ת (to carry) מַשָּׂ֗א (a load), וּבֹ֛א (and enter) בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י (the gates) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem) בְּי֣וֹם (day); הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (on the Sabbath) וְהִצַּ֧תִּי (and I will kindle) אֵ֣שׁ (a fire) בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יהָ (in its gates) וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה (and it will consume) אַרְמְנ֥וֹת (the citadels) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תִכְבֶּֽה׃פ (will it be quenched).